Tillerson axed after he blamed Kremlin
could simply swipe it on the ventilator vents.” Another theory was that the deadly nerve agent was smeared on the car’s door handles.
Sources said police believe Skripal’s daughter Yulia, 33, may have been an innocent victim of the hit.
Her dad did not use the car for at least three days before the attack because of heavy snow. It means assassins may have contaminated the car earlier in the week, expecting him to drive it alone.
Skripal had arranged for a friend to pick Yulia up from Heathrow Airport 24 hours before the attack. He finally drove his BMW with Yulia from his home to Sainsbury’s car park in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on March 4.
They parked on the upper level at 1.40pm. Scotland Yard are appealing for information on where they were from 1pm until that point.
The Skripals, who went on to The Mill pub then Zizzi restaurant, were later found unconscious on a bench.
Skripal’s BMW was recovered on Monday and taken to Ashley Wood recovery firm. Hazmat teams and emergency crews descended on the company yesterday and an inflatable tent was erected over the car, which was expected to be moved overnight.
Nearby roads and a ticket machine used by Skripal in the car park were taped off and counter-terror detectives who were in Salisbury last week were seen outside Glushkov’s home last night.
The death of the former deputy director of Aeroflot is unexplained but Russian newspaper Kommersant reported there were “traces of strangulation on his neck”.
His home was being guarded by two officers outside two forensics tents.
Locals told of their shock at Glushkov’s death. Taxi driver Gavin Henshall, 46, said: “Everyone has been asking police if this is connected to the attack on the Russian guy in Salisbury.
“Some of the neighbours were very worried after police turned up and started erecting the forensics tents.”
Neighbours said Glushkov underwent a number of operations in recent months. One said: “He never looked well when I saw him around, which wasn’t very often.”
Another said the Russian exile had not been seen since the attack on the Skripals, who are in a critical condition.
Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, who helped the Skripals, is in a serious condition. Another 34 people have been discharged from hospital, while one is being monitored as an outpatient.
Police have so far collected 380 exhibits and have been scouring hours of CCTV footage from across the city.
Met Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said the “prime focus” was the method used to administer Novichok. He added: “We are not declaring a person of interest or a suspect.”
Britain’s response to the attack could also include kicking out senior Russian diplomats, tough sanctions and stripping Russia’s state-funded TV channel RT of its right to broadcast here.
Russia last night threatened to expel all British media if this happened. donald trump fired rex tillerson just hours after the secretary of state humiliated him by blaming russia for the poisoning of spy sergei skripal.
the president axed tillerson via twitter yesterday rather than telling him in person.
and trump continued to refuse to publicly condemn moscow over the attack on the former double agent and his daughter yulia on march 4.
the White House had refused to directly blame the Kremlin on monday despite prime minister theresa may saying it was “highly likely” russia was behind the assassination attempt.
White House press secretary sarah Huckabee sanders refused three times to say moscow was accountable.
tillerson later called the poisoning “a really egregious act” that appears to have “clearly” come from russia.
Within hours, trump replaced him with former cia director mike pompeo.
steven Goldstein, under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, said: “the secretary did not speak to the president and is unaware of the reason but he is grateful for the opportunity to serve.”
Questioned about tillerson’s sacking yesterday, trump was asked about the skripal attack.
He said: “as soon as we get the facts straight, if we agree with them, we will condemn russia or whoever it may be.”
responding to tillerson’s sacking, democratic leader nancy pelosi said: “secretary tillerson’s firing sets a profoundly disturbing precedent in which standing up for our allies against russian aggression is grounds for a humiliating dismissal.”